Partisan divides in Washington are preventing legislative action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and climate change, but President Obama recently announced administrative initiatives to advance these efforts even without Congressional action. His new Climate Action Plan reaffirms domestic initiatives led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and international GHG emission reduction and climate change efforts. The Plan has the following three main “pillars”:
Tags: Environmental risks, Environmental, EPA, Greenhouse Gas, ghg, climate change
On February 7, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule (78 FR 9112) amending the new source performance standards for commercial and industrial solid waste incineration units. This action sets forth the agency’s final decision on a number of issues for which it granted reconsideration of the final rule titled “Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units” (CISWI rule) that was issued in March 2011. The final rule establishes effective dates for the standards and makes various technical corrections to clarify definitions, references, applicability, and compliance issues.
Tags: Business & Legal, Health & Safety, Training, EPA, Greenhouse Gas
Are you an employer concerned with California Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) compliance? Some recent developments at the state level may affect your operations. To learn whether you need to take action, read on!
Tags: Health & Safety, OSHA, California Legislation, Greenhouse Gas, ghg
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer provides the international framework for protecting the earth’s stratospheric ozone layer, by identifying and minimizing emissions of ozone depleting substances (ODSs). The original Montreal Protocol was initialed in September 1987. The U.S. was an original signatory, ratified in 1988, and became subject to agreed-upon provisions on January 1, 1989. Title VI of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments incorporates these international commitments into U.S. law, and assigns the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fine-tune and enforce domestic requirements.
Tags: Business & Legal, California Legislation, Environmental risks, Environmental, EPA, Greenhouse Gas, climate change
Various changes were made to environmental legislation during 2012, both in the US and internationally. Here follows a summary of some of the headlines.
Tags: International, California Legislation, Environmental, EPA, Greenhouse Gas, ghg, Stormwater
As 2013 progresses, governments throughout North America are considering whether and how to expand regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order to reduce climate change. For example, I recently wrote about California’s first sale of GHG emission allowance as part of its “AB 32” cap-and-trade program.
Tags: Environmental risks, Environmental, EPA, Greenhouse Gas, ghg, climate change
2012 has been a relatively quiet one for environmental health and safety (EH&S) compliance personnel. Fewer new laws are enacted in election years, because some or all of the lawmakers are busy running for election or re-election.
Tags: Health & Safety, OSHA, Environmental risks, Environmental, EHS, EPA, Greenhouse Gas, ghg, Hazcom
While we watch negotiators in Doha, Qatar continue to struggle to find international agreement on effective climate change minimization measures, it's useful to look at one part of the planet where aggressive actions are underway. No, not the U.S. federal government, which took time out of preparations for “fiscal cliff” negotiations to pass a law on November 27 empowering the Department of Transportation to prohibit U.S. airlines from participation in the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (Public Law No. 112-200). This month's prime example of action is California, which just held its first auction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission allowances to inaugurate a statewide cap-and-trade program.
Tags: California Legislation, Environmental risks, Environmental, Greenhouse Gas, ghg, climate change